Beach Clean Up Success!

We were honored to be able to assist 30 students who travelled all the way from Belize City to show the beaches of La Isla Bonita some seriously needed love! A huge thank you to Saint Catherine Academy Wavemakers Club and Saint John’s College - these are some seriously dedicated and hard working individuals!

Today was a shock to many. I asked one of the members what she thought of the state of the beach. She stated, “Of all the places the Wavemakers have cleaned, this beach is by far the most polluted location we’ve seen”. There wasn’t just trash on the surface of the sand, but buried deep and nearly buried forever were tangled ropes, plastic bags, thousands of bottles, and bits and pieces from long forgotten single use items. What was most heartbreaking was to hear that this area was once a popular turtle nesting area, but now it seems a reason they do not use it anymore is due to the absurd amount of plastic trash clogging their precious nesting ground.

We are at a very critical point here on Ambergris Caye, if we don’t start fighting hard to restore our ecosystem and adopt sustainable methods of development, we may not have an island worth visiting anymore. Let’s make the example these students set this morning be an example of the tremendous success we will have this year in the fight against pollution. San Pedro is a gem, a breathtaking island bordered by one of the most alive and rich barrier reefs, home to magnificent wildlife, some not seen on other any other caye, and a warm and culturally rich community that wins over the hearts of so many visitors. Let’s prepare for our future generations who will continue the legacy of La Isla Bonita by laying down the framework of an eco-conscious community. Together we can make a difference!